Olympic flame blazes into borough

Wednesday, 25 July 2012

VETERANS, Olympic medallists and charity founders will be among those getting their hands on the Olympic torch as it passes through the borough today.

Army veteran Jack Otter, who was injured by an improvised explosive devise in Afghanistan in 2009, will be one of the first people in Enfield to get hold of the Olympic flame as it makes its final approach to the Olympic stadium in Stratford, east London.

The 23-year-old, who lost both his legs and his left arm in the blast, told the Advertiser in March that he hoped to walk with the flame through Southgate today.

After being told he would be carrying the torch Jack humbly said: “I don’t see myself as an inspiration. But of course I am proud and privileged to be a torch bearer in London.”

He will be joined by German Olympic medal-winning fencer Claudia Bokel and charity founder Figen Rawlinson today.

Claudia won silver in the épée competition in 2004 and was also world champion in 2001. She is now a member of the International Olympics Committee and the IOC Athletes’ Commission.

Figen’s seven year old son Taylan died of an inoperable brain tumour in 2009.

Together with her husband Andy, they set up charity Taylan’s Project to raise funds for brain tumour research.

The couple, from Buckingham, have so far raised more than £75,000 and have also helped families with children diagnosed with brain tumours have a holiday together in the UK.

In the application to carry the torch they said: “Losing a child is the most devastating loss
anyone can be faced with.

“Life will never be the same again for us and we do not want other families to go through what we have gone through.

“Carrying the flame would mean so much. Taylan wanted to be at the Games but never had the chance. We feel he will be with us and give us strength to represent others who are affected by brain tumours.”

The flame will enter the borough at the Bestyle roundabout at 3.15pm, then travel through Southgate where it will pause at Barnet and Southgate College at 3.35pm.

The relay will resume just before 4pm when it heads to Palmers Green, then through Winchmore Hill and Edmonton, before being handed over the border to Haringey.

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